Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-24

I've raked some in that money amt SO
very mnch in this world as they make
of i vet TO man who's bin powerful
moor for sixty year it figures large
when it seems like he'd lose 1t, and
then-the nat'ral contraJ riness OF
human natur'! ! worked and watched
,qin them two wolves enough TO eat
mans heart ont We shared up evens
three weeks agone and let out together
for Victory You know what happened
at Williamss Lake, and you kin put
mcapin' to il now. Two days ago |
heard Conner was broke loose. lie
don't know where the dust IS buried,
but he reckons putty straight that some
is buried. and may here the old
nan. TO my astonishment, exploded
train Of some six Of the most terrible
ingenious oaths ever heard in British
Columbia-'if he does find it and does
keep it on this side of hell =
1--WE had some conversation about
tie bardsLips and dangers OF the win
ter. Of which he made light; and then,
after some simple allusion to my tender
sympathies with him, as eyinced by
ny keeping the flies off him just be-
fore. he begged me with great urgency
10 see him again at a camping-place IN
Caihoo, which ! should bass through
in some eight or ten days on my last
Journey up. He said 1t was important
and promised to explain why when We
should meet and so We parted for that
time.
"You will be pleased TO suppose That
these ten days have elapsed, and that /
am back III the snow and sitting in
rude, deserted waysidc cabin, with the
old man again for companion. Ny
horse las been coaXcd within the cabin,
too, and the deep silence OF the snow
world lies on us as il We We're the last
survivors OF an era.
81 told you, JcdCc, | wanted You
to take some kinder statutory declara-
ton. and tOmakc some sOrtcr inventory
ms would make an old man pass IN his
checks with some sortcr peace of mind.
| told YOU there was n bit OF Clnnabar
prospcctin' as nobody but me did
know, or was liketo know. ! told you,
Jedee, that this was the last favor |
rcckoncd to ask Of livin' man, and now
| beg and implore you this very night
TO come. | know the trail as well as
the rifles in my own flume. Five
niles, five hours. and road (the way
I'll take YOU, fit for the Governor
lady
The weird fascination Of the mans
appeal borrowed nothing from his
words, or even his manner in the Orli-
nary sense but there was magnetism
in It that reminded ne Of old German
ballads. and that, at any rate, gained
his point.
THAT nights march over those
mighty metamorphic rocks, through
that gigantic volcanic ruin now frozen
50 stitI and cold, though ] shall never
forget it, wonld require "A Dante TO sing
and DoIc 10 depict It's awful beauties
At last We reached the claim. The
SHOW had clothed the torn and riyen
banks, and heaps of bouldcrs, the ordi-
nary ravaecs Of mining, with its smooth
and pure outline, and the cabin door,
deity and speedily opened by the
owners familiar hand, let rs into its
neat and orderly precincts. Materials
for light and fire were ready prepared
fer use. though We had annotated
tho matter by whole win
ter. and having used them We
sailed forth again to stable my horse
in a somewhat distant shelter. On our
rCtmm some coffee and crackers (bus-
cults, that is lent n sense of fragrance
and ftstiSity 10 the little shauty but !
WAS shocked to observe the weakness of
tie old man when he was thawed from
the cold. lie waived aside. however,
all notice of this. and showed me how
to supplement the scanty comforts of
the lowest of three hunks with non
doscript collection Of coverings, old
sacks, and even planks aud dry
branches, till my future bed looked
ike wood-pile, into which was to
creep feet foremost.
- 1t comes to me, Cap'en, slowly
said Summcrs-di mention his name
before - tcOmcs to me that tins thing
is pretty nigh played ont. | guess the
Cinnabar must wait-nO man but me
could show You the way To that but
Just under where | am sitting land put
thisyer stool here puppus), the depth
Of pick handle, lies some two hundred
and sixty ounces Of dust as near as !
can mind, tied upin three canvas sacks
aid that thar dust, Jcdgc, Cap'cn
dear. ny boy, rs druv the flies from the
old man face-the old mans face as
las every tear drained oil 1t by years
O. wccpn' il his heart that dust Is for
you. You're young. and have 10 one
belonging to me III the world. I'll
give YOU Writin sign-a writin saying
the dust is yours.
- struggled as well Is | could
| against the mans benevolent inten-
lions but, at last had TO promise that
| would cxhume the gold and accom-
parry him 10 the settlements in the
morning Summers was so weak by
tbs time that was obliged to WRAP
! him MP and compose him for sleep in
front of The replenished fire. lie felt
10 pain, AMI begged NE to 90 10 rest,
which / did at last, clothed as ] WIS,
ard warned by some intuition to W
range my pistol for instant use.
- must have slept an hour or more
when the old mans voice awakened
ne, repeating in stronger but fIr-o.l
soIt OF voice the same string OF IN
spcahaLle imprecations TINT | formerly
declined to repea, for yoar benefit or
rather injury. They did not sound 50
vicious this time, bat gave me the idea
OF - sort Of wild abracadabra or verbal
fetch. used to forlliy OF acccntuIte 4
resolution. | slept again, Gnd again
avokt, this time to some purpose. As
ny eyes oItncd "a match was struck II
tie cabin, and 10 my amalrment-tOi
| somehow bad never anticipated this
James Conner stood, with candle III
ore haud and n pistol III the other
pCcring into the cold and silent face o.
the dead miner dead-in second thlt
was evident, for 10 pIous hand, though
own was near, had closed his weary
eyes, and they were wide open and
tie jaw fallen III all the unloyeli-
ness of death. must have made some
motion or sound, for the mur!erer's
| li-Lt and weapon both quickly moyei
uIon NE as lay suplne on one elbow,
with, thanks to my intuitiye preclu-
lions, tie nuz2le OF my revolver cover
III him as hc stepped sideways tOwarI
| / 4. i